Would you like to make this site your homepage? It's fast and easy...
Yes, Please make this my home page!
FORBIDDEN PLANET
FADE IN: 1
MAIN AND CREDIT TITLES SUPERIMPOSED ON THE
BLACK OF OUTER SPACE -- pinpointed with
piercing stars, smudged with nebulae, scrwled
across with cosmic dust. As TITLES END –
A Voice (o.s.)
In the final decade of the Twenty-first Century, men
and women in chemically-fueled rocket ships landed
on the moon. By 2200 A.D., with the perfecting of
atomic propulsion, they had reached the other planets
of our solar system.
(as CAMERA BOOMS IN)
Almost at once there followed the discovery of
quanto-gravitetic hyper-drive, through which the
speed of light was first attained, and later
greatly surpassed – and so at last mankind, now
banded together in a single federation, began the
conquest and colonization of deep space.
ADVANCING CAMERA has by now PICKED UP
(MINIATURE) A SPACE SHIP IN FLIGHT – a
relatively tiny object of polished metal.
Shaped along the general lines of the planet
Saturn, it hangs suspended before the in-
finite background, and seems hardly to move.
Voice (continuing o.s.)
United Plaets Cruiser C-57-D, more than a year
out from Earth Base on a special mission to the
planetary system of Alpha Aquilae, the great
main –sequence star Altair
As CAMERA STOPS in an impressive FULL-SCREEN
CLOSE SHOT (MINIATURE) – THE SPACE SHIP –
DISSOLVE
INT. MEDIUM SHOT – NIGHT – MAIN DECK 2
At the marvelous controls is COMMANDER
ADAMS, exceptionally young for his rank.
Beside him LT. FARMAN, his astrogator and
second-in-command, is bent over the eye-
pieces of a computer. In the communications
area, CHIEF QUINN, youthful and spectacled,
is hastily locking up his banks of electronic
gear. Correspondingly, LT. “DOC” OSTROW (a
dozen years older than his Commanding Officer)
is stowing away his medical supplies. AS
SCENE STARTS --
Adams (to Farman)
When do I get a D.C. fix, Jerry?
Farman
Half a minute, Commander.
Adams (over shoulder)
Got your breakable gear stowed, Chief? We drop
back below light-speed soon as the Lieutenant’s
ready.
Both
Aye-aye, sir.
Farman
Ship on course. Will reach D.C. point at 17-1 –
less than three minutes now.
Adams
Take it away.
Farman swiftly punches out an elaborate
combination on the controls.
Farman
D.C. set, and punched on.
Adams (into inter-com)
Attention! Captain to crew: All hands square
away to decelerate.
In various b.g. areas, a crew of about a
dozen men jump to batten down loose gear,
etc. During the following each steps into
his individual deceleration station.
Adams (continuing)
The ship’s beeper will as usual sound ten times
after lights dim.
Bosun (in b.g.)
D.C. stations! – On the double! Want to bounce
through this one?
As the officers too take their stations, the
ship’s gong sounds. The lights slowly dim.
As the ship’s beeper sounds ten times at
one second intervals, a column of green
radiance gradually comes into being around
each man. Suddenly, with a huge, shatter-
ing sound, the general lighting jumps to
violet. The ship begins to pitch and jar.
The light brightens swiftly to blue, to
green, to yellow, to orange, to pink, to
red, to blazing scarlet. For a moment,
everything appears to waver and change shape
in a screaming climax of tortured molecultes.
Then abruptly, blackness and silence.
-- Slowly the lights come on. The men step
off their D.C. stations, groggy and a little
sick.
Adams (checking speedometer)
Down to point 3896 of light-speed.
Farman (as all crowd to
view-scope)
Altair right on the nose!
Adams
O.K., Jerry, punch out an orbit on that fourth
planet out from the primary.
Farman (as he obeys)
Ship in approach. Helical vector orientated.
Adams (into intercom)
Captain to crew: Attention! Attention!
3-4 OUT
MEDIUM SHOT – AT BIG VIEW-PLATE 5
As it lights up, and a number of crewmen
gather, and begin talking in eager under-
tones. A planet is now visible, like a
blue-green jewel, hallowed with atmosphere.
Adams’ Voice (continuing)
Our port of destination, Altair-4, is now
visible on the main view-plate. As you will
recollect from your briefing lectures, this
is an earth-type planet. Twenty years ago the
spacecraft Belerephone landed here with a pros-
pecting party of scientists. Our mission is to
search for survivors. That is all.
LAP DISSOLVE:
MED. SHOT – NAVIGATION AREA – MAIN DECK 6
The mottled globe of Altair-4 fills the
whole scope. Doc and Adams are peering
at it. Farman is still at his eye-pieces.
Doc
The Lord sure makes some beautiful worlds!
Adams (to Farman)
How do those continents check with the old charts?
Farman
Tell you better in a few hours, Skipper.
(glancing up)
Time for brakes.
Adams
Take it away.
Farman (into intercom)
Astrogator to crew: Stand by to change flux.
As Farman manipulates the controls, there
is a sudden roar, and a lurch. As the
SOUND quiets to a drone –
DISSOLVE:
7 OUT
FULL SHOT – MAIN VIEW-PLATE 8
A detailed section of Altair-4 is now visible,
like a huge relief map. Dawn sweeps over seas
and plains and mountains, until finally all
is in full daylight. During this, PULL BACK
into GROUP SHOT of crewmen.
Crewman Randall (mopping
forehead)
Getting hot in here!
Crewman Lindstrom
Sure – listen!
Above the drone of the brakes, there is now
a steady, shrill hissing sound.
Crewman Moran
Air-friction on the hull!
Crewman Nichols (at a new sound)
Coolers just cutting in.
Adams’ Voice (on intercom)
Now hear this! Captain to crew: we areentering
the atmosphere of Altair-4. No survival suits
will be required upon landing. Oxygen content
4.7 richer than Earth standard, gravity only
point 897. Adjust equipment accordingly. That
is all.
Identified by a white chef’s cap, the Cook
has come up into the doorway of his galley.
He is distinctly of a lower type than the
others.
Cook (bored)
Another of them new worlds. No booze, no women,
no pool parlors. I’d trade all the galaxies there
is for one windy corner of Cickisaw County,
Oklahoma.
MED. SHOT – BRIDGE 9
Quinn busy at his electronic gear; Farman
checking a set of old charts against the
terrain visible in the forward scope; the
Doc peering down through a built-in tele-
scope.
Adams (to Quinn)
Not even any short-range radio signals?
Quinn
Not so far, sir.
Adams (gravely)
You make out anything down there, Doctor?
Doc (eye at eye-piece)
I could be missing individual structures, but there
are no cities, ports, roads, bridges, dams – just
no sign of civilization at all.
Farman (puzzled)
How would that little Belerephon party build
up a civilization in twenty years!?
Adams and the Doc glance over at him.
Adams
Ever ask yourself why they’ve never sent word
back?
Farman (shrugging)
They could have cracked up on landing.
Adams (very grave)
Or they could have made Man’s first contact
with an alien race.
Doc (as Farman looks
startled)
You think aliens would necessarily be hostile?
Adams (lightly)
They could be anything from arch-angels to
man-eating spiders – or a combination of both.
All three think about this for a moment
or two.
Quinn (startlingly)
Commander Adams! We’re being radar-scanned.
All start. Adams crosses quickly.
Adams
Can you zero on it?
Quinn (a bit shaky)
No, sir. It – it seems to emanate from an area
about 20 miles square!
Poker-faced, Adams considers this for a
moment, then flips the switch of the
alarm beeper. As crewmen rush to their
posts in b.g.
Bosun
Combat stations! Blaster men activate your
scopes!
Suddenly the beeper is cut off. The officers
remain motionless, alert, and carefully quiet.
Quinn (suddently)
Radio contact! Sir, there’s a voice here!
Adams
Human?
Quinn
Sounds like.
Adams
Boost it.
Quinn mkes an adjustment, and the voice
comes through, deep and authoritative,
but a little blurred with static.
Voice
-- space shit, identify yourself. You’re being
tracked.
Adams (into radio)
United Planets Cruiser C-57-D, J. J. Adams
commanding. Who are you?
Voice
Morbius speaking.
Adams
Who?
Voice
Edward Morbius of theBelerephon.
Adams (aside to Farman)
Check those Belerephon rolls – M-O-R-B-I-U-S.
Farman is already checking the list.
Farman
Here he it! Morbius E. – Ph.D., Lit. D. –
expedition philologist.
Doc (frowning)
Philologist?!
Voice
Cruiser! What do you wish here!
The officers exchange glances.
Adams (into radio)
You don’t understand, sir. We’re your relief –
very glad to find you alive.
Voice (conrolled impatience)
I of course appreciate your concern. But abso-
lutely no assistance of any sort is required.
They glance at each other again, incredulous.
Farman (dryly)
The old red carpet treatment – what?
Adams (quietly into radio)
Doctor Morbius, by orders are to survey the situation on Altair-4.
Voice (very arbitrary)
Let me repeat: I’m in no sort of difficulty
here! Your best procedure will be to turn
back at once without landing.
Adams (burned but quiet)
Sorry, sir.
Voice (snapping)
Commander! If you set down on this planet,
I warn you that I cannot be answerable for the
safety of your ship or your crew!
Adams (holding himself in)
If you’ll just supply me with landing co-ordinates –
There is a silence.
Adams (sternly)
Dr. Morbius – I require landing co-ordinates.
Voice (resigned)
Very well! – but I wash my hands of all res-
ponsibility. You have standard charts?
Adams
Yes, sir.
Voice
You may come in at 83-17-4 North, 148-21 West.
Adams
Thank you.
Farman has punched out the co-ordinates on
the automatic computer.
Farman (checking screens)
That’s right back there in that desert.
Voice (suddenly)
Commander! I strongly urge you to reconsider!
Please permit me to recommend –
Adams quietly switches the amplifier off.
Doc (frowning, pondering)
Something funny down there, Kipper?
Adams glances at him, but does not reply.
Adams (to Farman)
I’ll take her in.
(into intercom)
Captain to crew: Stand by to reverse polarity.
Standard Class A security will be maintained
upon landing. Until further notice, all hands
will wear side-arms. That is all.
All have been fastening their safety belts.
Adams
Artificial gravity off.
Farman
Grav. off.
Adams (as both punch controls)
Half-flux.
Farman
Half-flux.
Adams
Cut primary coils.
Farman
Primaries cut.
DISSOLVE
10-12 OUT
EXT. DAY – LONG SHOT – (MINIATURE PREOCESS) 13
THE SPACE CRUISER DESCENDING TO THE
ALTAIRIAN DESERT
with a strange, piercing electrical sound.
The sky behind is a startling but beautiful
chartreuse color.
FULL SHOT (MINIATURE) – THE SPACE CRUISER 14
hovering a few yards above the desert sand,
its landing-ring glowing incandescent, and
with great hairy bolts of vari-colored
electricity spraying down from it, so that
dust rises, thicker and thicker. – There
is a change in the tearing sound. Landing
feet swing downward. Just as they touch
the sand, the sound of electrical power is
cut abruptly, and the weight of the ship
settles visibly. Then a hatch slides open –
MED. SHOT – THE GANGWAY 15
As the dust settles, two armed scouts emerge
cautiously, warily, and survey the im-
mediate area. Satisfied, they hand-signal
the ship. The three officers come down
alertyly. All are now wearing their semi-
dress uniforms, with sidearms. As they
step to the sand, TRUCK IN.
Doc (gazing in admiration)
Look at the color of that sky!
Farman (wistful for once)
I’ll take blue.
Doc
No, I think a man could get used to this, and
grow to love it.
Adams (calling over shoulder)
Bosun, you can assemble the tractor.
Bosun (in background)
Aye, aye, sir!
Farman
Checked your command mike, Skipper?
Adams
Good idea.
He activates a miniature two-way radio in his
insignia. (As will be revealed later, its
center is a tiny television camera which may
be pulled out on a reeled cord.)
Adams
Chief.
Quinn’s Voice
Sir?
Adams
You’re in command, Quinn. And stay right at those
instructments.
Quinn’s Voice
Aye, aye, sir.
Doc (suddently pointing o.s.)
What’s this dust coming?
REVERSE ANGLE – LONG SHOT – THE DESERT 16
A column of dust is rolling rapidly nearer.
THREE SHOT – THE OFFICERS WATCHING 17
Farman
Looks like we’re being me.
Adams (over shoulder)
Hold the tractor, bosun.
(peering o.s.)
That’s quite a vehicle, hm?
Farman
And is that driver a wild man!
Adams (after a pause)
What driver?
As they stand staring blankly, there is a long
shriek of brakes o.s., dust blows through, and
a three-wheeled, streamlined vehicle of shinging
metal skids to a stop in f.g. Rising in front
is a arther pointed dome, partly transparent,
with active electronic machinery visible inside,
and studded elsewhere with various lights,
gauges, gadgets, etc. Behind this, enclosed in
transparent plastic wind-shielding is baggage
space, and two fore-and-aft passenger seats,
arranged something like an Irish jaunting car,
and at present unoccupied.
Doc (stupidly)
It’s empty
But at this moment, the dome stirs, the for-
ward streamlining opens, and a ponderous
figure of metal and plastic stands up into
full view.
REVERSE ANGLE – MEDIUM SHOT – THE JEEP 18
The three officers in f.g. with their backs
toward CAMERA. As the ponderous figure steps
down, and faces CAMERA, there is a shock: he
has no face – only a compicated arrangement
of electronic gadgets which crackle and light
up at unexpected moments. In spite of his
dis-proportioned arms andlegs, he only very
roughly suggests the human shape. Also he is
able to rotate the upper part of his dome, and
so seems to “face” the person addressing him.
Now confronting the three officers, the robot
bows slightly, like a dignified and elderly
family servant.
Robot (a grating monotone)
Welcome to Altair-4, gentlemen. I am to transport
you to the residence.
They all stare at him in speechless astonish-
ment.
Robot (finally)
If you do not speak English, I am at your disposal
with 187 other languages, along with their various
dialects and sub-tongues.
Adams (getting hold of himself)
Colloquial English will do, thanks.
(clearing his throat)
No offense, but you’re a robot, aren’t you?
Robot
That is correct, sir. For your convenience, I
am monitored to respond to the name “Robby.”
The officers are still slightly awkward
in this unfamiliar social situation.
Adams
Great climate you have here –
(big inhalation)
--that high oxygen content!
Robot
I rarely use it myself, sir. It promotes rust.
The cook approaches, staring curiously.
Cook (aside to Farman)
Lieutenant – is it a male or a female?
Robot (faintly chilly)
In my case, sir, the question is totally without
meaning.
(holding jeep door)
Will you get in, gentlemen?
After a moment, they comply, and Robby goes
round in front, sits down, engaging his rear
end in the drive mechanism, and closes the
streamlining about himself.
Adams (into command mike)
Track this, Quinn. And if I blink red –
Quinn’s Voice (on command mike)
I’ll bring the tractor ina hurry, sir.
Robot (as all sit)
Passengers will please fasten their seat belts.
Doc (complying, amused)
He looks after us like a mother.
The words end in a grunt, as the jeep takes
off with a tremendous lurch, proving that
the seatr belts are absolutely essential.
DISSOLVE
INT. MEDIUM SHOT (PROCESS) – THE JEEP 19
Speeing madly along the brink of a horrify-
ing chasm comparable to the Grand Canyon.
Adams, Doc, and Farman are hanging on.
Adams (yelling)
Keep the speed down, Robby! Molto pericoloso!
Trop vite! Zu schnell!
Robby’s entire dome rotates through 180
degrees, so that he now faces straight
back at them.
Robby (courteously in German)
Have no apprehension, sir.
(in French)
My built-in reflexes are infallible.
As Adams and Farman fail to understand.
Doc (translating – rather awed)
He says to keep your shirt on, Skipper – his built-
in reflexes are infallible.
Farman (to Robby)
Well, speak English for thelove of Pete!
(almost a scream)
- and at least look where you’re going!
Robot
Not necessary. I do everything by positronic
trans-figuration.
He winks several lights rapidly to prove it.
LAP DISSOLVE”
NEWCOMB SHOT – MORBIUS HOUSE 19X1
DISSOLVE
EXT. – ENTRANCE MORBIUS HOUSE 20
Not expecially large, yet strange and impress-
ive among its gardens of flowering trees and
falling wates. All around it is a panorama
of lush grandeur and beauty. TRUCK IN as jeep
enters f.g., rolls to a stop.
Robot (holding the door)
If you gentlemen will go in, you’re expected.
As the three get out, TRUCK them forward in
silence through a marvelously planted patio.
A calling of birds around them, and a tinking
of water. – Suddenly, at the far side, they
see a tal firgure waiting for them at the head
of three steps. He is about fifty years old,
lean and wide-shouldered, and dressed in worn
coveralls. His iron-gray hair is hacked off
at the nape of his neck, and his face is im-
pressively lined. The direct, dark eyes are
daunting with intelligence. He watches the
three young men sternly as they approach.
TRUCK IN with them. Instinctively they come
to a military half, facing him.
Morbius (unexpectedly)
I am Morbius!
Adams (in acknowledgment)
Commander Adams.
(presenting others)
Lt. Farman, my Executive. Lt. Ostrow, our Ship’s
Doctor.
Morbius regards them with a smile which is
at once playfull, and strangely chilling.
Morbius
How ironic that a simple scholar, with no ambition
beyond a modest measure of seclusion, should, out
of a clear sky, find himself besieged by an army
of fellow-creatures, all grimly determined to be
of service to hime!
Adams’ jaw-muscles knot, but he controls it.
Adams
Sir, if we’re not welcome, we’re sorry, but we have
our orders.
morbius (hastily)
But you must of course stay for lunch!
As they follow him indoors –
LAP DISSOLVE
INT. CLOSE SHOT – MORBIUS’ LIVING ROOM - 21
ROBBY’S HAND LIGHTING THE DOC’S CIGAR
by simply touching his fingertip to it. PULL
BACK into GROUP SHOT – THE TABLE, set in the
dining area. A large, beautiful room, with a
big window overlooking the terrace, with the
lovely gardens dropping away below. Lunch is
just over.
Doc (puffing, content)
Finest cigar I’ve ever smoked.
Farman
And that lunch! – whatever it was.
Morbius (quietly pleased)
Simply some of Robby’s synthetics.
Adams
He’s your cook too!?
Morbius
Even manufactures the raw materials.
(demonstrating Robby)
One introduces a sample of human food through this
aperture.
(tapping Robby’s metal abdomen)
Now down about in here there’s a small, built-in
chemical laboratory where he analyzes it. Later
he’s able to reproduce identical molecules in any
shape or quantity.
Adams
The housewife’s dream!
Morbius (chuckling)
-- Plus absolute, selfless obedience.
(to Robby)
Activate the disposal unit.
Robby sides back a small panel in the wall,
revealing a standaing column of pale radiance,
which seems to stir faintly. Morbius picks
up one of the beautiful drinking glasses, and
tosses it in, water and all – it disappears
soundlessly. They are impressed.
Doc (aside to Farman)
Household disintegrator beam!
Morbius (to Robby)
Put your arm in there.
As Robby movies to obey, the three officers
gasp, grab the edge of the table.
Morbius (to Robby – just in
time)
Order cancelled.
(smiling at their relief)
Don’t be misled by appearances, gentlemen. Robby
is simply a tool – no feelings whatever.
(complacently leaning back)
Tremendously strong, of course 00 he could quite
easily topple this house off its foundations.
Doc (grave)
In the wrong hands, mighten’t such a servant become
a deadly weapon?
Morbius flashes a glance at him – smiles.
Morbius
No, doctor, -- not even though I were “the mad
scientest” of th tape-thrillers – because, you
see, there happens to be a built-in safety factor.
(amused that they seem dubious)
May I borrow that formidable-looking side-arm,
Commander?
Adams silently hands his blaster over to
Morbius, who passes it to Robby. The other
two officers do not like this very muc.
Morbius
Robby, point this thing at that althaea frutex out
on the terrace.
(as Robby obeys)
Pull the trigger.
There is a roar and a streak of light, and
the flowering bush has vanished, vaporized.
Morbius (to Robby)
You now understand the mechanism?
Robby
Yes, Morbius. A simple blaster.
Morbius
Very well. Point it at the Commander.
As Robby obeys, Farman and the Doc involuntary-
ily reach for their own weapons, but Adams
checks them with a slight gesture. He sits
looking steadily into the barrel of his own
blaster. Morbius plainly respects this.
Morbius
Aim right between the eyes, Robby.
(as Robby obeys)
Fire!
Nothing happens. Robby stands rigid. Faint
pops begin coming from inside him, electric
shortings squirm over his whole body, and all
his dials and gauges are violently agitated.
Morbius (chucking)
You see? He’s helpless – locked in a sub-electronic
delemma between my direct order and his basic inhibi-
tion against harming a rational being. If I allow it
to go on, he’ll blow every circuit in his body.
(to Robby)
Cancelled.
Morbius returns Adams’ blaster. Robby goes
about his duties. All relax slowly.
Doc (deeply impressed)
How did you come by such a mechanism?
Morbius
Come by it? I tinkered Robby together during my
first months here.
Farman (as all stare)
You built this – er – gentleman?
Morbius (shrugging)
A useful enough toy, but nowadays I’ve no time for
such things.
Adams (frowning faintly)
But Dr. Morbius! You’re a philologist – an
expert in words and languages, their origins,
derivations, meanings –
(leaning toward him)
-- yet this robot of yours is beyond the combined
resources of all Earth’s physical science!
Morbius has become guarded, like a man
conscious of having made some sort of slip.
Morbius
Possibly you over-estimate both Robby and myself,
Commander.
(rising, dismissing subjects)
In any case, our coffee seems to be ready.
They follow him into the living-room, where
Robby has arranged a coffee service on a
table at the garden window. Unexpectedly
Morbius stops at a wall switch.
Morbius (playfully)
Here -- let me show you another bit of parlor
magic
(throwing switch)
Presto!
Instantly, heavy steel shutters clang down
across all the doors and windows, leaving
the room in darkness. When Morbius switches
the lights on, all three officers have their
blasters out, prepared for anything.
Morbius (ironically amused)
Oh please! Forgive me! I didn’t mean to alarm you!
(reversing switch so that the shutters
roll up into their recesses again)
I had Robby install these steel shutters before
I’d realized how altogether safe I am here.
They site down at the window-table, and when
Robby has poured their coffee, he leaves.
Morbius, under a surface good humor, is now
blandly determined to speed his parting
guests.
Morbius
Well, gentlemen, this has been very pleasant.
You’ve seen how comfortable I am here – no hard-
ships, no special difficulties, no need at all for
any military assistance.... Now I dare say you’re
impatient to report back to Base.
He is about to rise in polite dismissal.
Adams
Yes, sir – the moment we’ve interviewed the other
members of the Belerephon party.
Morbius stares in sober astonishment.
Morbius
Others!? But there are no others!
(nodding, as they react to the shock)
Before the first year was out, they had all –
every man and woman – succumbed to a..... a
sort of planetary force here.
(haggard and haunted)
A dark, terrible, incomprehensible force,
Commander! Only my wife and I were immune.
For a moment, the three officers exchange
quick, suspicious glances.
Adams (carefully quiet)
And how do you account for your immunity, Dr. Morbius?
Morbius (troubledly)
I wish I could answer without sounding too fanciful
and unscientific. But as far as we were ever able
to determine, my wife and I differed from the
rest only inour special love for this new world –
in our boundless longing to make a home here, far
from the strife and scurry of humankind.
He turns, stares out the window, and they all watch, still dubious and suspicious.
Morbius
I remember how when the vote was taken to return to
Earth, she and I were utterly heart-broken.....
(suddently loud, agitated)
How could we have foreseen the extinction of so
many co-workers and friends!
During this, Farman has produced the
Belerephon rolls, and been quietly running
through them.
Farman (suddently)
Skipper, there’s no record of any wife in the
Belerephon rolls.
Marbius (wearily impatient)
Look under bio-chemistry, Lieutenant.
(pointing out name on list)
Here – Julia Marsin.
(turning away again)
She and I were married by the skipper during our
voyage here – I have the certificate.
Now the three officers are uncertainagain.
The Doc relaxes, glances around the room.
Doc (smiling)
I thought Robby had managed some charming feminine
touches!
(to Morbius)
Mrs. Morbius isn’t at home today?
Mrbius stiffens. His lips tremble – set.
Morbius
My dear wife died some months after the others –
although in her case it was of natural causes.
Doc (wretchedly)
I’m so very sorry.
Adams (startlingly brutal)
And what exactly were the symptoms of all those
other deathers? – the unnatural ones I mean!
Morbius (somber dignity)
